U.S. military formally ends mission in Iraq

Khalid Mohammed / Associated Press

The U.S. and Iraqi flags and the U.S. Forces-Iraq colors are seen before they are carried in during ceremonies in Baghdad marking the end of U.S. military mission in Iraq. After nearly nine years, 4,500 American dead, 32,000 wounded and more than $800 billion, U.S. officials formally shut down a conflict that U.S. Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said was worth the price in blood and money, as it set Iraq on a path to democracy.

The U.S. and Iraqi flags and the U.S. Forces-Iraq colors are seen before they are carried in during ceremonies in Baghdad marking the end of U.S. military mission in Iraq. After nearly nine years, 4,500 American dead, 32,000 wounded and more than $800 billion, U.S. officials formally shut down a conflict that U.S. Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said was worth the price in blood and money, as it set Iraq on a path to democracy. (Khalid Mohammed / Associated Press)